President of Argentina. He received world-wide recognition as an Argentinian general, who served as the 8th President of the Confederation of Argentina from October 12, 1880 to October 12, 1886 and a second term as the 13th President from October 12, 1898 to October 12, 1902. He achieved many improvements for his nation: a broad network of railroads and port facilities for exporting; increased foreign investment especially with England; large-scale immigration from Southern Europe; expansion of the agriculture economy; a strong national government; a new breed of cattle with refrigeration of meat introduced; and the gain of territory from Chile. Born Alejo Juilo Argentino Roca Paz to a well-to-do family, he graduated from the National College in Uruguay. At the age of fourteen, he joined the Army of the Argentine Confederation on March 19, 1858, and was send into combat against rebels within the country. Using modern weapons and thousands of troops, he fought against Paraguay from 1865 to 1970. Quickly, he rose in rank to colonel as he helped to suppress the revolution of Ricardo Lopez Jordan and another with Jose Arredondo. At this point, he was promoted to the rank of general during the Desert Campaign. In 1878 he was appointed Minister of War dealing with the Native population, who were resisting the thousands of European settlers invading their homeland. From 1878 to 1879, 1,313 Natives were killed, 15,000 taken prisoner of war, and several hundred European hostages were released resulting in opening the southern and western Pampas and the northern reaches of Patagonia for European settlement. He and his colleagues acquired much of this land and many of the Native prisoners of war were forced into free labor using an old colonial law. His government was powerful enough to end the many years of political chaos, which had preceded him as president, thus leading to national growth. An agreement was made stating Chile had the rights to the Pacific Ocean and Argentina the Atlantic Ocean. After the end of his administration, he traveled to Paris, France for a short time but returned after the overthrow of his presidential successor and brother-in-law at The Revolution at the Park, the uprising against the national government of Argentina that happened on July 26, 1890. With Vice-President Carolos Pellegrini becoming President of Argentina, Roca served as the Secretary of the Interior, which helped him to protect his own property. With the new President coming in office in January of 1895, he became President of the Senate. Upon the current President of Argentina becoming ill in October of the same year, he became president for his second term. During his second term, he achieved improved relationships with the Vatican, the borderline argument between Chile was resolved, and in 1902, the enforcement of the Drago Doctrine, an international law that rejects the right of a country to use military force against another country to collect debts. He retired from public office in 1904, yet accepted an appointment in 1913 as Ambassador to Brazil. Looking back on the 55 years he served in the nation's military plus as the president, history documents him as a national hero.